It will soon be time to come dine in Wiltshire, as four amateur cooks do battle to host the best dinner party for a hit TV show.

An upcoming episode of Channel 4’s Come Dine With Me was filmed in the county, featuring four eager competitors hoping to win £1,000 and the title of best host.

Mark Lamputt, 31, from Freshford, Fleur Van Heij-ningen, 28, from Corsham, Keith McEvoy, 38, from Calne, and Terhi Ikonen, 46, from Kington Langley took turns hosting dinner parties, each preparing a three-course meal before being graded by their guests.

Each of the contestants spent a whole day filming ahead of their turn in front of the cameras.

Miss Van Heijningen, who runs Theodora’s florist on the High Street, said: “It was quite stressful. I think the other contestants took the week off work, while I was running the shop during the filming, but it was still quite fun in the end.

“The film crew arrived at 10am and didn’t leave until gone midnight. Everything has to be filmed so you can take them through what you are doing. If you do it wrong ,you have to do it again and again.

“I had a Greek menu, and we did plate smashing at the end of the night, which was definitely my favourite part of the evening.”

The drinks were flowing at the party hosted by personal trainer Mark Lamputt. He said: “My starter went down like a ton of bricks, but everyone was absolutely steaming by the end of the night, so we still all enjoyed it.

“It was nice to meet three random people and be thrown in at the deep end with them. I had never hosted a dinner party before, so it was quite a challenge.”

Miss Ikonen, a musician, had an extra surprise when it came to her turn to play host.

She said: “I did my own entertainment, I had a guitarist with me and sang two songs I had written. Everyone was singing along.

“I think they all expected me to sing as they knew what I did, so they weren’t surprised, but everyone was very supportive.”

Mr McEvoy, who works for the RAF at Brize Norton, said: “It was excellent, I had a really good time, and it was nice meeting new people.

“I’ve only got a small kitchen, so I’m used to having lots of people around me when I’m cooking, with my wife and kids here.

“They mix people up so you can bounce off each other, but as it turned out I think all four of us were similar fun-loving people and didn’t take it too seriously, so we all had a laugh.”

The show will be aired on Channel 4 next month, when the winner of the £1,000 cash prize will be revealed.